Podcast Summary: Not Just the Tudors – The Elizabethans and Islam

Podcast Information
Title: Not Just the Tudors
Host: Professor Susannah Lipscomb
Guest: Professor Jerry Broughton, Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary University of London
Episode: The Elizabethans and Islam
Release Date: May 5, 2025
Description:
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb delves into the intricate relationships between Elizabethan England and the Islamic world, challenging traditional Tudor narratives by exploring diplomatic, commercial, and cultural exchanges that have long been understudied.

Introduction to Elizabethan-Islamic Relations

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb opens the episode by highlighting the conventional focus on elite figures like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh in Elizabethan foreign policy. However, she introduces a paradigm shift by questioning whether Elizabethan England was truly a dominant imperial power or rather a secondary player interacting with more formidable Islamic empires such as Spain, Persia, and the Ottomans.

Professor Jerry Broughton concurs, emphasizing that his research uncovers "incredible stories about encounters and transactions between Muslims and Elizabethan Protestants” that significantly alter our understanding of the period. He references his book, This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic World (timestamp [02:12]).

The Moroccan Ambassador’s Visit (1600)

One of the pivotal moments discussed is the visit of a Moroccan ambassador, Al Onouri, to Elizabeth I’s court in November 1600 (Julian calendar) ([04:18]). Broughton explains that this delegation aimed to establish an Anglo-Islamic alliance against Catholic Spain. Despite its significance, the alliance faltered due to Elizabeth's existing ties with the Ottomans, leading to its eventual dissolution upon her death.

Key Quote:
"Elizabeth is too concerned that it might conflict with a much longer standing closer alliance with the Ottomans." ([04:18] Jerry Broughton)

Overlooked Connections with the Islamic World

Broughton attributes the historical oversight to a "cultural nationalism" that prioritizes English national narratives and New World encounters over Old World interactions with Africa and Asia ([07:09]). He points out that merchants played a crucial role in these exchanges, often operating under the radar of mainstream historical accounts.

Key Quote:
"There are all these different moments, different kinds of encounters, but there's a consistency to it. There's a consistency to the way in which the Elizabethan state is working with the Islamic world, primarily because it's an attempt to deal with the threat from Spanish Catholicism." ([09:16] Jerry Broughton)

Language and Terminology Barriers

A significant barrier to recognizing these connections has been the absence of specific terminology such as "Muslim" or "Islam" in the English language until the early 17th century. Instead, terms like "Ottomans," "Saracens," and "Moors" were used, causing fragmentation in the historical narrative ([09:16] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"The terms Islam and Muslim do not enter the English language until the 1610s, 1620s." ([09:16] Jerry Broughton)

Merchants as Cultural Bridges

Anthony Jenkinson, a merchant active in the mid-16th century, serves as a prime example of these overlooked connections. His travels to Aleppo and Persia established early commercial ties between England and the Islamic world, facilitating not just trade but also cultural and theological exchanges ([12:42] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"Jenkinson is amazing because he meets a sultan... It leads to all kinds of unintended consequences. English men and women who are converting to Islam in the 1570s." ([26:13] Jerry Broughton)

William Harborne and the Capitulations

Another standout figure is William Harborne, who in 1578 secured the Capitulations—a groundbreaking commercial and diplomatic agreement with the Ottoman Empire. This pact granted English merchants preferential trading rights within Ottoman territories and remained in effect until the empire's collapse in 1922 ([35:35] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"The Capitulations... it's one of the longest standing diplomatic and commercial deals in English history." ([35:35] Jerry Broughton)

Cultural and Literary Reflections

The profound interactions between Elizabethan England and the Islamic world are mirrored in contemporary literature. Plays featuring Muslim characters, such as Shakespeare’s Othello, reflect the era's complex and ambivalent attitudes towards Islam and Muslims ([50:19] Professor Susannah Lipscomb).

Key Quote:
"There is a sense in which that's why the drama is so important... Othello is so cracklingly still alive." ([51:00] Jerry Broughton)

Victorian Scholarship and Its Limitations

Broughton critiques Victorian-era scholarship for constructing a skewed narrative of the Renaissance and Tudor periods, emphasizing British imperial superiority while neglecting the rich tapestry of international relations, including those with the Islamic world ([12:42] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"The Hakluyt Society work... was about editing that work and creating and sort of literally whitewashing a version of cultural encounter in this period." ([19:39] Jerry Broughton)

Religious Dynamics and Conversions

The episode explores the religious complexities of the time, highlighting instances of English Protestants converting to Islam and the limited records of conversely, Muslims adopting Anglicanism. These conversions underscore the deep theological and cultural exchanges occurring beneath the surface of political alliances ([44:13] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"There are thousands of English men and, increasingly, women who convert to Islam... But for converters to Anglicanism, there's only one record." ([44:13] Jerry Broughton)

The Untapped Potential of Anglo-Islamic Alliances

Despite initial attempts, the envisioned joint Anglo-Islamic attacks against Spanish forces never materialized. Broughton attributes this to the shifting political priorities of the Ottomans and the fragmented alliances within the Islamic world, particularly between the Ottomans and the Moroccans ([47:15] Jerry Broughton).

Key Quote:
"The Ottomans don't see it as realistic. The Moroccans come closest to doing it, but the alliances are always so shifting." ([47:15] Jerry Broughton)

Conclusion: Revisiting Tudor Narratives

Professor Susannah Lipscomb and Professor Jerry Broughton conclude by emphasizing the importance of reevaluating Tudor history to include these multifaceted interactions with the Islamic world. This enriched narrative not only offers a more comprehensive understanding of Elizabethan England but also provides valuable insights into contemporary issues of nationalism and cultural identity.

Key Quote:
"We're trying to be truthful in the stories we tell about the past and that the richer and the fuller the picture that we can give, the more we're going to resemble the past." ([19:39] Professor Suzannah Lipscomb)

Notable Takeaways:

• Elizabethan England maintained significant, though often overlooked, diplomatic and commercial relations with the Islamic world.
• Merchants like Anthony Jenkinson and William Harborne played pivotal roles in bridging England with Ottoman and Persian empires.
• Victorian scholarship's emphasis on British imperialism has limited the recognition of these Anglo-Islamic interactions.
• Cultural exchanges influenced literature, as evidenced in Shakespearean plays featuring Muslim characters.
• Religious dynamics were complex, with instances of both Protestant and Islamic conversions, reflecting deeper theological engagements.
• The anticipated Anglo-Islamic military alliances against Spain were thwarted by shifting geopolitical landscapes and internal Islamic world dynamics.

This episode of Not Just the Tudors invites listeners to rethink established historical narratives, shedding light on a more interconnected and globally engaged Elizabethan England.